raced in rear, pushed along from 3 out and not fluent next, soon no impression
chased leader early before improving to lead before 2nd, almost joined from 9th, pushed along and headed before 2 out, soon dropped to 3rd and no extra before last
raced in 3rd, pushed along and ridden from 3 out, not fluent next and soon went 2nd, almost on terms at last, kept on run-in without matching winner
led early, headed and dropped to 2nd before 2nd, jumped slightly left 8th and almost on terms after next, pushed along to lead before 2 out and soon ridden, pressed from last and kept on best run-in
Henry De Bromhead has won this for the past two years with Sizing John and Identity Thief and will be hoping Calino D'airy can follow suit. Unbeaten against decent opposition in his two starts over fences, he'll need to produce more here but there's every likelihood of him doing so. TOMBSTONE, a Grade 3 winner over timber, followed a very encouraging debut over fences with a victory at Down Royal though had a fight on hinds before being left clear at the last. His stable companion Brelade couldn't handle Footpad at Navan last week but the winner looks very useful and he wasn't disgraced. Woodland Opera looked a nice prospect when completing a double in April but has disappointed in his two runs this season while Inis Meain has plenty to do.
Brelade 7-4 (11-12) Tracked leader, 2nd halfway, pushed along before 2 out and soon no impression on winner, kept on one pace, 2nd of 6, 11l behind Footpad (11-12) at Navan 2m 1f Soft - Heavy in Nov.
Calino D'Airy (FR) 6-4fav (11-7) Disputed, slight mistake 2nd, soon led after, ridden entering straight, stayed centre straight, ran around slight under pressure pressure closing stages, kept on, won at Galway 2m 2f hvy in Oct beating Dont Tell No One (11-7) by 2 3/4l, 5 ran.
Tombstone (IRE) 11-8fav (11-12) Disputed early, chased leader from 2nd, slight mistakes 5th and 6th, improved to lead 3 out, joined and disputed before 2 out, not fluent and rider lost balance briefly 2 out, soon ridden, left in lead last, eased home, won at Down Royal 2m 4f sft in Nov beating Thebarrowman (11-12) by 16l, 12 ran.
Woodland Opera (IRE) 10-3 (11-0) Towards rear, progress to 4th at 6th where mistake, improved to 3rd at 9th, no impression in 4th 2 out, kept on for moderate 3rd close home, 3rd of 7, 28l behind Bamako Moriviere (11-0) at Cork 2m 4f (1) sft in Nov.
Inis Meain (USA) 50-1 (10-0) Held up behind, hampered 11th, outpaced 3 out, soon ridden, never near leaders, 6th of 10, 17l behind Kingswell Theatre (10-7) at Cheltenham 3m 6f hcp (2) gs in Nov.
